Ever since a meeting was held last week about the future of Wallaceburg’s drinking water, people in the community have been encouraged to submit their feedback and thoughts.
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley told the Sydenham Current he has not heard from anyone in favour of the consultants recommendation.
Wesley said it was even a topic of conversation in the dressing room at the arena in Wallaceburg on Sunday when he met with his friends for hockey.
“I have yet to have a single person tell me they prefer Lake Erie,” he said. “Since the public meeting every e-mail I have received is against Lake Erie.”
Wesley said it is very important for people to share their thoughts.
“Everyone, no matter what they think, need to share their thoughts and concerns with the consultant,” he said. “This can make a difference whether with the consultant or at the PUC.”
Carmen McGregor, the council elect in Wallaceburg, said she is hearing the same feedback in the community as Wesley.
“Everybody I talked to throughout the campaign, since the campaign and even since these meetings… I’ve not heard one person in Wallaceburg say they want water from Lake Erie,” she said. “I have not heard anyone say that that is the route to go.”
Karen Debergh, president of the Wallaceburg and District Chamber of Commerce, said she is concerned the comments from the public will not be heard.
“I attended the Wallaceburg and Area Water supply system meeting last week and left with the impression that, although they gave us several alternatives, that the decision has already been made,” she said. “Which I hope is not actually what has taken place.”
Debergh said she was impressed with the knowledge of the people that attended the meeting and subsequently the questions and comments that were brought forward to the presenters.
“I also, applaud the Ward 5 councillors Carmen McGregor and Jeff Wesley for taking the time to attend the meeting and hear what their constituents are saying. I, agree with Jeff’s statements that we as I group do not want Lake Erie water and definitely do not want our Water Treatment Plant to close.”
Debergh added: “In the short run, rehabilitating the existing building is a far less cost to the taxpayer, so many other factors can come into play over the next 40 years, it is hard to validate the future costs that were presented to us. I have every confidence in Jeff and Carmen to bring the forward to council what is best for our community and surrounding area.”
Wallaceburg resident Doug Babbitt said he has many questions that have yet to answered.
“After each major rainfall American news covers the amount of raw sewage going into the St Clair, Detroit River and Lake Erie from aged or insufficient infrastructure in many communities surrounding Lake Erie,” he said. “The financial outlook of many of these communities is so bleak that they are in no position to repair or improve their infrastructure for years to come. Also, what are the track records for all beach areas on Lake Erie which are closed due to bacteria levels in this shallow lake? I am not against Erie water if you can guarantee that other communities surrounding the lake are going to address their infrastructure issues which currently allows them to pollute the Lake.”
Babbitt said the farther downriver you are, the more chances exist to have chemicals/untreated sewage overflow added to the drinking water from upriver.
“For years we as a community have been at the mercy of polluters from upstream who have remained silent while they knowingly added chemicals and sewage to our water,” he said. “We have been lied to by both companies and other communities up river as to the types and extents of pollutants they have been adding to our drinking water.
Babbitt added: “The psychological effect on community members and the public stigma from those outside our community that has been attached to Wallaceburg drinking water has to be a consideration in any decision to be made.”
Babbitt said the public input should have been sought before a recommendation was made.
“This sounds like a financially driven decision… and no doubt somewhere in it a political agenda, rather than one that encompasses the broader public opinion of those who are on the Wallaceburg and area water distribution system,” he said.
McGregor said it is time for the community to speak up.
“The process now, they are bringing recommendations based on the Environmental Assessment that was done,” she said. “There will be another public meeting, but now is when we need people to stand up and speak out in the community. I know Coun. Wesley and I have both talked, numerous times about it and we are going to fight for what we can and bring that message forward for what the community wants but we need the community to speak up.”
Further comments are being accepted by Stantec and the PUC from the community until December 12.
Contact one of these two individuals with your comments:
Andrew Galloway
Engineering Technologist, Water/Wastewater
Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission
Tel: 519-436-0119 ext. 313
Email: andrewga@chatham-kent.ca
or
Michele Oxlade
Environmental Coordinator
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Tel: 519-675-6652
Email: michele.oxlade@stantec.com
Watch for more on this story in the Sydenham Current.
We’re fine the way we are.